Patient advocacy can’t be basis for CBPC lawsuit

A federal court has refused to open up yet another avenue for employees who want to directly sue their em­­ployers.

Recent case: Beth, a radiologist, voiced concerns about her em­­ployer’s standard protocol that required pre-biopsy surgical consultations. She said that delayed proper patient care and amounted to Medicare fraud because it added cost to the system. She complained often.

Beth ended up quitting, citing terrible harassment over her complaints.

Then she sued her former employer under the California Business and Professions Code (CBPC), alleging wrongful termination.